BHATINDA -- Farmers in Punjab have rejected the first ever genetically modified commercial cotton hybrid seed, Bt Cotton, due to its poor harvest Malwa, a cotton rich area, in southern Punjab is highly dependent on this cash crop, but successive failures have left farmers in the lurch.

Bt Cotton had found many takers among farmers in Punjab when it was introduced. Though the Punjab Agriculture University was against the sowing of Bt Cotton seeds, several farmers smuggled Bt Cotton seeds from Gujarat hoping better results. The yield was, however, lower than claimed.

The Daula village sarpanch Mr Darshan Singh was quoted as saying, ""... We had to spray chemicals four to five times on Bt Cotton. The crops were attacked by various pests, specially the American Bullworm. The Bt Cotton yield was lower than that of the local varieties, which are more profitable." Moreover, the Bt Cotton seeds are costlier.

Mr Baljinder Singh, research scientist with Monsanto India Ltd, was quoted as saying, "Our aim is to reduce the cultivation cost.